PHNOM PENH, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government on Friday approved approximately 6.7 billion U.S. dollars for the government's expenditure in 2019, an increase of 11.4 percent compared with that of 2018, said a government spokesman.
"The (weekly) Cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, unanimously approved the draft budget law for the 2019's expenditure," said Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers.
According to the draft budget law released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, some 605 million U.S. dollars will be allocated to general administration for 2019, up 0.4 percent from 2018.
About 1.1 billion dollars will go to national defense, security, and public order next year, an increase of 10.5 percent from this year.
Social sector will get 1.78 billion dollars, up 3.4 percent, and the economy-driven sector will receive 1.62 billion dollars, up 16.8 percent.
According to the draft law, the government's expenditure next year is equal to 24.72 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
The ministries of education, health, and transport will receive 899 million dollars, 447 million dollars and 736 million dollars respectively for next year's expenditure.
To meet the expenditure, the government is expected to make gross revenue of about 6.57 billion dollars next year, an increase of 14.4 percent from this year, the draft law said.
It added that the government has planned to borrow another 1.9 billion dollars from friendly countries and development partners next year to develop the energy sector, agriculture and irrigation system, and transport infrastructure.
The Southeast Asian country's economy is projected to grow by 7.1 percent in 2019, bringing the kingdom's GDP to 27.2 billion dollars, and the GDP per capita is expected to hit 1,706 dollars, the draft law said.
Under the country's law, the draft budget law for 2019 needs to be adopted by the National Assembly before the year-end.
